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Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 41851

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Prof. Dr. Sławomir Kocira

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1. Department of Machinery Exploitation and Management of Production Processes, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
2. Department of Landscape Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Interests: plant biostimulants; sustainable agriculture; biostimulator; quality of plants materials; quality management
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Dr. Agnieszka Szparaga

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Department of Landscape Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Interests: sustainable agriculture; biostimulants; food technology; quality of plants materials; quality management; crops; modeling; allelopathy; plant extracts; optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Pavol Findura

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Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Transport and Bioenergetics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Interests: agricultural and forestry machinery and technology; smart farming; machine quality

Dr. Ewa Czerwińska

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Guest Editor

Koszalin University of Technology, Poland
Interests: sustainable agriculture; biostimulators; food technology; microbiology; quality of plants materials; crops

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, science faces vast challenges related to actions undertaken in the frameworks of the sustainable development of the bioeconomy, from economic, social, and ecological perspectives. It seems that the greatest challenge of our time will be to increase the efficiency of translating developed technologies or the proposed solutions into innovative economic successes. The sustainable development of the bioeconomy is not only a prerequisite for the increase of the quality and attractiveness of products or services, but it also leads to the improvement of the quality of life of the whole population. In the bioeconomy model, an extremely important role is ascribed to sustainable agriculture. Its task is not only to ensure food security but also to provide biomass for fuel production or biomass as a raw material for the industry. However, biomass production for the production of energy fuels and other products used in the bioeconomy cannot compete with food manufacture.

This Special Issue will welcome interdisciplinary research, including laboratory research; studies on new methodologies, technologies, and products; case studies; and field experiments that show a critical approach to the possibilities of developing the sustainable bioeconomy and its specific sectors, including agriculture and food industry. This Special Issue aims to identify research and scientific approaches to the important problem of the sustainable bioeconomy that have a huge impact on the global population. We want to identify both the benefits and the obstacles or dilemmas of an economic, social, and ecological nature that determine sustainable development. Therefore, we encourage researchers dealing with natural, economic, technical, or social issues, as well as engineers, decision makers, and practitioners, to submit their work to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Sławomir Kocira
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Szparaga
Prof. Dr. Pavol Findura
Dr. Ewa Czerwińska
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Challenges to bioeconomy development—a sustainable approach considering the limited availability of natural resources
Innovations for sustainable development—technological aspects
The sustainable development of agriculture and the food industry—knowledge being the basis of innovation
The sustainable development of the bioeconomy considering progress in the manufacture of novel products and production techniques, efficiency growth, and the increase of competitiveness
Food security in the bioeconomy model in the light of the growing global population
The preservation of biodiversity vs. demand for renewable biological resources
The evolution of production systems in the light of global climatic changes
Quality systems coupling environmental, social, and economic production goals
Case studies of agricultural/food systems providing a complex approach to environmental, economic, and social or ethical issues
Chains of value in the bioeconomy—knowledge, research, innovations vs. production, distribution, and marketing
Improvement of the efficiency and quality of services in bioeconomy sectors
The rational and sustainable management of agri-food waste—an innovative approach to waste conversion into high-quality and environment-friendly products
The economic and quality aspects of sustainability
Modeling in sustainable development
Sustainable development of the bioeconomy
Innovations and challenges for sustainable development
Sustainable development of agriculture and the food industry
Food security in the bioeconomy model
The evolution of production systems
Chains of values in bioeconomy
The rational and sustainable management of agri-food waste
The economic and quality aspects of sustainability
Modeling in sustainable development

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of the Opening Shape in Slot Spray Nozzles in a Field Boom Sprayer

by Jacek Wawrzosek and Stanisław Parafiniuk

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3291; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063291 - 17 Mar 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2736

Abstract

The European Standard ISO 16122-2:2015 requires that the coefficient of variation for sprayed liquid fall should not exceed 10%. Field sprayers generate a stream of liquid sprayed at an angle that depends on the design of the nozzles. Among field boom sprayers, previous methods for selecting the shape of the opening of a single-slotted spray nozzle have been based on the following rectangular, triangular, normal, beta, and truncated normal distributions; distribution obtained from a nozzle with a stream in the form of an empty cone; and glued square functions. These methods, however, have provided a limited range of uniformity. Consequently, the initial assumption that the monotonicity of the function corresponds to the shape of a quarter of the symmetrical oval nozzle opening allows for a full computerized optimization of nozzle shape with a spray angle of α = 110° (or α = 120°). In this case, the spray uniformity parameter is controlled and freely declines almost to zero. In this study, based on the nonlinear shape obtained, we developed the shape of the nozzle outlet opening with a coefficient of variation of 0.388% using spline linear functions. Further applications of the symmetry of the developed model would allow for multiple modifications of the shape of this opening, and therefore, without changing the spray uniformity parameter, nozzles with slightly different characteristics could be obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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10 pages, 635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selected Properties of Soils for Long-Term Use in Organic Farming

by Marcin Niemiec, Maciej Chowaniak, Jakub Sikora, Anna Szeląg-Sikora, Zofia Gródek-Szostak and Monika Komorowska

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2509; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062509 - 23 Mar 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 3804

Abstract

The goal of organic farming with respect to plant production is to create high-quality products while minimizing human impacts. The aim of this paper was to assess soil properties in selected organic farms in terms of the achievement of general and specific objectives of organic farming. Fifty five (55) organic farms were selected for the research; twenty five (25) of those farms additionally had conventional animal production with cattle breeding. Soil samples were collected from each farm and, the following parameters, deciding about the suitability for agriculture were determined: pH, content of organic carbon, available phosphorus and potassium, mineral nitrogen, and Total nitrogen content. The content of available phosphorus and mineral nitrogen was very low or low in most of the studied soils, which can lead to disturbance of homeostasis of agroecosystems. Potassium content in these soils was high. The properties of the studied soils indicate a high risk of chemical and biological degradation. Without implementing actions that control the pH and increase the content of nitrogen and phosphorus elements, the degradation will increase. Soil properties in the group of farms with animal production were more beneficial from the point of view of crop production, compared with farms that do not breed animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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15 pages, 1227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Plants to Spraying by Hydrogen Peroxide

by Ewa Szpunar-Krok, Marta Jańczak-Pieniążek, Karol Skrobacz, Dorota Bobrecka-Jamro and Maciej Balawejder

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2469; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062469 - 21 Mar 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4373

Abstract

The biocidal properties of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) could be used in plant protection. However, the effects of H₂O₂ foliar spraying on the performance of the potato photosynthetic apparatus are still unclear. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar spraying, which was done twice, with various H₂O₂ concentrations (1, 3, 6, 12, and 18%) on the potato photosynthetic apparatus efficiency and antioxidant capacity. The measurements were taken four times: on the first and seventh day after each application. Foliar spraying with 1% H₂O₂ concentration was the most stimulating for the course of physiological processes in leaves. Further increased doses of H₂O₂ enhanced stress in plants which is manifested by a decrease in pigment levels, photosynthetic attributes, antioxidant capacity in leaves, and fresh mass above-ground parts of potato plants. The intensive effect of spraying was particularly observed on the first day after application, while later, the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant capacity increased. The study provides information that foliar spraying with 1% H₂O₂ can be taken into account in further research on the development of a potato plant protection methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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10 pages, 259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Efficiency of Nitrogen Slow-Release Fertilizers in Integrated Production of Carrot Depending on Fertilization Strategy

by Jakub Sikora, Marcin Niemiec, Monika Tabak, Zofia Gródek-Szostak, Anna Szeląg-Sikora, Maciej Kuboń and Monika Komorowska

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051982 - 5 Mar 2020

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4159

Abstract

Optimization of plant nutrition is a very important part of primary production quality systems. Crop fertilization is the most important agrotechnical measure because it determines the amount and quality of the yield. Moreover, excess fertilization intensifies the eutrophication processes and the greenhouse effect. The study aimed to assess the suitability of slow-release fertilizers in cultivation of carrot subspecies Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus in the integrated production system. The objective was realized on the basis of a strict field experiment set up on a clay loam soil with low nutrient content. The dose of fertilizer was the experimental factor. The fertilizers were applied during the formation of the ridges. Traditional fertilizers (ammonium phosphate, potassium salt, ammonium nitrate, and a multi-component fertilizer Polifoska 6), as well as a multi-component fertilizer with slow release of nutrients, NPK Mg (18-12-24-4), were used. In individual variants of the experiment, different fertilization strategies were applied: integrated production fertilization, traditional fertilization, and fertilization based on the use of slow-release fertilizers. The control treatment comprised of unfertilized plants. The efficiency of nitrogen fertilization was evaluated based on agronomic efficiency, partial factor productivity, physiological efficiency, and removal efficiency. Fertilization strategy significantly impacted the quantity of obtained yield. In the control sample, prior to mineral fertilization, the crop yield was 33.53 Mg·ha⁻¹. The largest yield was 82.30 Mg·ha⁻¹.The largest yields were obtained from plants fertilized with a combination of slow-release fertilizers, with nitrogen introduced in the form of ammonium phosphate, and through conventional fertilization. The highest productivity and environmental efficiency were obtained in treatments with fertilization according to the principles of integrated production and with slow-release fertilizers. In terms of environmental efficiency, the best results were obtained through nitrogen fertilization using 400 kg of slow-release fertilizers. The use of slow-release fertilizers in carrot cultivation can significantly improve the efficiency of fertilization, both in terms of production and environmental protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

19 pages, 919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structuration of Natural Resource-Based Innovations in Universities: How Do They Get Institutionalized?

by Ridvan Cinar

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 1834; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051834 - 29 Feb 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3408

Abstract

Natural resource-based innovations (NRBIs), especially through the valorization of waste and side streams, have recently become a significant element of the bioeconomy agenda in several countries across the world. Accordingly, a variety of institutions, including universities, have been expected to contribute to such innovations. While there have been serious efforts within universities to play a key role in NRBIs, questions of the extent of institutional continuity of these efforts over time and how this can be achieved remain unanswered in the literature. This paper, therefore, seeks to identify the determinants of a highly institutionalized structure that is supportive of NRBIs in universities. By mobilizing a literature in which the level of structuration is conceptualized as the degree of institutionalization and by using a single case study of a Portuguese public university, it was found that several internal and external factors have contributed to the institutionalization process, which has led to the emergence of a sedimented structure. Despite a high degree of institutionalization, several challenges that have either impeded the harnessing of the full potential of NRBIs or that have posed a threat to the university’s highly institutionalized structure were also found. The paper concludes that the institutionalization of NRBIs within universities not only requires orchestrated organizational efforts but also more consideration of the social, economic, and political dynamics that have recently engulfed universities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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15 pages, 1907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Selection of the Machinery Park in Sustainable Agriculture

by Michał Cupiał and Zbigniew Kowalczyk

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041380 - 13 Feb 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3230

Abstract

A correct selection of the machinery park is vital for correct functioning of a farm. It is significant in sustainable farming where, except for economic factors, application of a suitable technique and technology in order to lead an effective production is crucial. The paper presents a method of designing a set of machines for a farm. The method was implemented in the computer application. A suitably selected, optimised machinery park enables a sustainable agricultural production and achievement of the desired economic, production and environmental effects. The application was practically verified and is used in teaching and farming practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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11 pages, 1956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Potential Fertilization Effects of Microgranule Fertilizer Based on the Protein and Calcined Bones in Maize Cultivation

by Maciej Balawejder, Małgorzata Szostek, Józef Gorzelany, Piotr Antos, Grzegorz Witek and Natalia Matłok

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1343; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041343 - 12 Feb 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4088

Abstract

In the presented manuscript, the method of production, mechanism of action and the potential fertilizing effect of fertilizer soil microgranules, characterized by a controlled release of ingredients, that were produced from thermally processed bone waste and protein were described. The prepared fertilizer was tested in 3 doses in a pot experiment and thereafter the selected dose of 30 kg ha⁻¹ was utilized in field conditions. The applied dose of fertilizer caused an average increase of maize yield of 620 kg ha⁻¹ (grain moisture 14%). It was found that the obtained increase of maize did not result from the amount of supplied micro and macro elements to the soil, but it was a consequence of the fertilizer’s mechanism of action. It was shown that the release of nitrogen in ammonium form from protein degradation due to the influence of fertilizer components and water had impact on the intensive growth and development of plant root system. This resulted in an increase in plant resistance to water stress during the growing season and consequently, greater yield. The developed soil fertilizer (produced mainly from the processed waste) with the proposed mechanism of action should be successfully applied in fertilizing plants that are grown in areas characterized by cyclical water shortages during the growing season Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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9 pages, 1062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Approach for Sewage Sludge Stabilization with Ozone

by Patryk Kosowski, Małgorzata Szostek, Rafał Pieniążek, Piotr Antos, Karol Skrobacz, Tomasz Piechowiak, Anna Żaczek, Radosław Józefczyk and Maciej Balawejder

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030886 - 24 Jan 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3208

Abstract

Due to a variety of physicochemical properties of the sewage sludge the selection of proper methods for its stabilization is difficult. In this work, the effect of ozone treatment on physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of sludge was investigated. Ozonation was carried out using a counter-current bed reactor, which ensures optimal mass transfer and the contact time of ozone with excessive sediment. The ozonation process was carried out for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min at an ozone concentration of 90–110 ppm. As a result of the ozone treatment it was possible to reduce the number of colony forming units. Also the potential for dewatering of the sludge improved while the total solids of the sludge did not change. The values of COD and BOD₅ increased with time of the process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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14 pages, 896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Fertilization in Selected Phytometric Features and Contents of Bioactive Compounds in Dry Matter of Two Varieties of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

by Natalia Matłok, Józef Gorzelany, Agnieszka Ewa Stępień, Adam Figiel and Maciej Balawejder

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6590; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236590 - 22 Nov 2019

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3663

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of sustainable, organic and standard mineral fertilization in selected phytometric features and contents of bioactive compounds in dry matter of two varieties of Ocimum basilicum L. The herbal material was first examined for its phytometric characterisation and then subjected to the combined convective pre-drying and vacuum-microwave finish drying method (CPD-VMFD). The energy consumption for the drying process of plant material in the case of CPD-VMFD is lower in comparison to the convection method (CD). The obtained dry material was assessed for determination of the colour parameters. Next, the analysis to identify the total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant properties (ABTS) was done. The dried material was subjected to head space–solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) to determine volatile compound content. The herbal material obtained from the basil cultivated with an addition of sustainable, organic fertilizer was found to have a significantly higher content of bioactive compounds than the control, especially of polyphenols and volatile compounds like eucalyptol. Presumably, this is an effect of the elicitation process resulting from the fact that extract from common nettle was applied as an organic fertilizer component. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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16 pages, 3956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of FTIR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics with Respect to Storage Conditions of Moldavian Dragonhead Oil

by Arkadiusz Matwijczuk, Tomasz Oniszczuk, Alicja Matwijczuk, Edyta Chruściel, Anna Kocira, Agnieszka Niemczynowicz, Agnieszka Wójtowicz, Maciej Combrzyński and Dariusz Wiącek

Sustainability 2019, 11(22), 6414; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11226414 - 14 Nov 2019

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4237

Abstract

Oils often have similar properties and can be difficult to identify based on color, smell or taste alone. The present paper suggests the use of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in combination with chemometric methods to explore similarities and differentiate between samples of Moldavian dragonhead oil subjected to different storage conditions. Dragonhead is a plant characterized by very good honey output and ease of cultivation. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to a standard, full range of FTIR spectra. Additionally, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was employed to explore the organization of the samples in groups relative to their “proximity” (similarity), by way of Euclidean distance measurement. PC1 and PC2 accounted respectively for 85.4% and 10.1% of the total data variance. PC1 and PC2 were strongly, negatively correlated within the entire spectral range; the only exception was the region corresponding to νs(-C-Hvst, -CH₂) vibrations (aliphatic groups in triglycerides), where PC2 was positively correlated. The use of FTIR spectral analysis revealed noticeable differences in the intensity of bands characteristic of the ageing processes (markers of oxidative processes, etc.) taking place in oleaginous samples and related to the processes of fatty acids oxidation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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12 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliar Fertilizer Based on Calcined Bones, Boron and Molybdenum—A Study on the Development and Potential Effects on Maize Grain Production

by Maciej Balawejder, Natalia Matłok, Józef Gorzelany, Marcin Pieniążek, Piotr Antos, Grzegorz Witek and Małgorzata Szostek

Sustainability 2019, 11(19), 5287; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11195287 - 25 Sep 2019

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3756

Abstract

Phosphorus is a biogenic element with a high importance within the food chain. Regrettably, there are limited amounts of phosphorus within minerals naturally occurring in the environment. Its scarcity leads to a necessity of closed loop economy, where this element could be obtained by the processing of various waste materials. Modern agriculture needs to provide sufficient amounts of phosphorus to plant organisms encountering problems with the bioavailability of nutrition. In this research, a post-processed animal waste material (calcined bone) was utilized to reclaim phosphorus and reintroduce it into the environment in a form of foliar fertilizer. The calcined bones were subjected to chemical transformation with nitric acid solution. The solubilization of bones was followed by laboratory-scale pot experiments, in which the fertilizer was used for the cultivation of maize plants. In the field experiments, the fertilizer was additionally fortified with boron and molybdenum elements. It was observed that the utilization of the fertilizer had a positive impact on maize plants, i.e., improvement in the biomass production of aboveground and underground parts of the plants. The amount of chlorophyll increased in comparison to control plants. Maize grain production was increased by approximately 600 kg ha⁻¹). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Bioeconomy—Challenges and Dilemmas)

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